the voice of God is heard in the rain

    Last night was wonderful. For various reasons, chief among them, the rain. It is amazing when it rains. This for me is grand regardless of whether I'm indoors or not. Getting caught up in it is for me really beautiful. The feel of the rain on my head and my face. The air gets lighter, the clouds join us and we experience a little bit of heaven. To the host of us what is magical is the sound of the rain when we are cosy and in bed. That turns our ordinary night's rest into a haven of sorts. The sound of the rain pounds the ground, windows and roofs in a rhythmic fashion that calms our beating hearts, the sound of the waters drown our worries, cares and failings. It is all too amazing even recounting it may not capture it properly. I realized that this is a feeling that I shared with tons of people, and my curiosity sent me shopping for reasons why so. Why, there is such a consensus on this. Then I came across these verses:

EZEKIEL 43.2
And I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east.
His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was
radiant with his glory.
REVELATIONS 1:15
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and
his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

As well, I learnt of an interesting fact. A friend of mine got a beautiful baby girl. Every time her mum would come back into the room from whence she was gone, and speak the baby would start fidgeting and tugging in the direction of the voice she'd heard. As well when she'd cry her mother's voice would calm her.
All this came together in perfect harmony. the reason why the rain, is so soothing is because it is the voice of our father. His voice is like the sound of rushing waters. People may dismiss the rain as random drops of waters falling to the earth's surface, but the likes of King David when he considers the Lord's handiwork he is filled with praises. God, in the rain, speaks to us comfort, peace and solace. The same way our parents are able to give us assurance and sense of security, is the same way God speaks to us even when it seems the waters are overwhelming us. The feeling of being small and helpless in His kingdom is of great gain because then and only then can he be our safety and refuge.
I love the rain because it gives me a chance to hear the voice of God, and one more reason to trust his safety and security.

Jesus the bowing King

He who bowed down to model and make me;
He who bowed down to the ground to write mercy in the place of wrath;
He who bowed down to wash my feet;
He who bowed down to give me eternal life;
To Him do I bow down in a perfect ceaseless form of worship to the liberating King
Who came not to conquer Kingdoms but hearts
To restore us back to what we were intended for;
To him that counted humility a worthy cost to Him do I bow down;
to him that taught me how to bow down
to him do I bow down
To him I bow down.
To him I bow down
TO HIM I BOW DOWN IN A PERFECT CEASELESS FORM OF WORSHIP.
To the bowing King. His Name is Jesus!

My President's Sermons.

I love my president and maybe I'm tribal. Maybe. I don't know how else to express the optimism I feel when I see him address Kenyans so full of hope and aura of compassion greets the public. I know we have not had much action done in the way of security, and even the promises that he and his government promised. I however think probably we are judging too harshly. Fifty years and for once we have an approachable, understanding president. For the first time we don't have to worry the president will literally make heads roll, or have persons 'mysteriously' disappear, or that we will have no recourse not even a press release from a president we expect to have some say in every such like major thing. I don't know about you but I am happy about my president.

I would like to share something I have observed. Recently two individuals dreamt that the President was preaching and teaching the deep things of YHWH to Kenyans. He was literally speaking and sharing on things of God. In his subsequent speeches the President and his deputy have done this exact thing and the mouths of Kenyans have not been mum about this they have rubbished these as unbecoming and ineffective. One most recent address was in response to the Mandera attacks and the terrible incidence of sexual violence against women. Unlike what people expected he said this:

“what are you Kenyans doing, (about the state of the nation), when someone is stripped a crowd is there and all they do is take pictures to post on social media?...let us not be cheated that there can be an officer for every Kenyan neither will they be at every single place...”

I heard this and it did not appeal to me much until I thought about it in light of the above testimonies. Let us interrogate the statement in part in light of the comments that were raised. A general idea was why a whole president throw back a question we asked him concerning security?

However I think he spoke so deeply and especially to the Christian. What are you beloved doing, are you crying and pleading to God on behalf of this nation? Are you singing the Psalms of God's deliverance that will attract the presence of God to intervene? What are you doing? A lot of Kenyans have such a carnal mind questioning the military apparatus, others discrediting the policies and persons in such offices. It is a truth that anyone who trusts in the chariots, and horses will be put to shame. The Lord gives us two options to trust in the Lord or in horses, policies and men. The president rightly asked us Kenyans what are we doing for those suffering, what are we doing. He is asking the civilian not the military neither Mr Lenku nor Mr. Kimaiyo. He is asking you whom you trust, if it's the government, your answer is wrong.

As well is the common debate to have heads roll. Well a perfect example is that of Mr. Gichangi. He resigned. Very few months later, we have a strangely similar situation, whether intelligence information is availed or not, whether we have a spiked number of police officers, we will have this problem. Unless we are who are called by His name will humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways, only then will God hear us from heaven and forgive our sins and HEAL OUR LAND! We need healing from failing promises from complacent leaders from the wickedness on our land that is defiling us remember the curse of Cain, “the blood of our brothers is crying out from the ground...”

Please let us pray, the President is asking us to pray. Let us hearken to the call...The shofar is blown are we so keen to act on this?

The Proverbs 31 Man

Dear Makmende,
Hi, I'm feeling so weird about this, what!! ts been a minute! So sorry as you might have heard I got into a puny little accident and have not been able to type much until quite recently[day before yesterday]. I'm really praying for you to have the grace to forgive me- I shouldn't have gone this long but praise God I'm back. I was impressed upon by God something I'm sure will trigger a light bulb in you somewhere :).
For quite sometime I'd been praying for a pal of mine. I was really declaring Proverbs 31 as her portion. After a while God challenged me to desire a change in me first: If at all there should be a change it should start with me. So I looked my bible for anything that speaks of the ideal man- I mean this in the following context.

A man of noble character who can find...

His wife has full confidence in him...

He brings her good, not harm, all the days of his life.

He provides food for His family.

I hope you get the picture now: if there is an equivalent if not higher standard to hold the man accountable. This is a tailoring of proverb 31:10-31 Even more closely is the purview of what has been happening all over- men are really the focus of attention. The wrong kind of attention. Let us look at this a small bit.

Anyone who has been following news in the Kenyan context has stumbled upon dead beat Kenya. This is apparently a facebook page that is meant to name and shame absentee parents but which is jammed with men folk. Whether this suggests that men are common culprits or not is not the issue it is enough that guys are being featured.

As well a friend of mine once received helped from a man, later to be considered a gentleman. However it was a feeling deep in her heart that is the issue. She expressed shock that a lady would receive help from a man who is not asking for 'favors'. This is a very common attitude unfortunately being the norm or common doesn't make it right position.

There is the endless wave of morning radio shows that really paint a gruesome picture of men. It is almost certain that a man somewhere is doing something wrong small or big that is clearly irredeemably offensive to the ladies. There is always a matter on radio shows that distorts the proper view of the other sex and causes the number of people who resent the other sex. Hence a common statement is heard and it goes something like this:

"I don't think I will ever get married,

not after all I've heard is happening..."

The question that follows is: whether there is any truth in these endless accusations? I say yes but will be quick qualify the answer. It is indeed true that man's heart is wicked beyond comprehension....man...invents ways of doing evil, and also a fact remains that in every rumor there is a measure of truth however insignificant [by this i mean both men and women]. However it is equally true that there are better and diplomatic ways to settle all matters, there is never a justification air dirty linen and wisdom requires that truth is reported if at all need be and not an exaggerated version of it. As well let us have informed answers and solutions to problems otherwise you might just have drawn blood into shark infested waters. its one thing to allow amicable solutions and entirely another to tell people that so and so is on the offensive. it breeds even more like-problems because like google and facebook do the more a search query is entered the more popular it seemingly is- it is not a popularity contest, so if we are not giving sound[Godly] advice we best be quiet about it. So is there a valid instruction a man can look to for direction?

Recently, I attended a session that was pounding not so gently on the man and his ever dwindling significance and I wondered  as to the remedy of this problem and as you rightly guessed I turned to scriptures.

As I earlier on said I thought hard on the Proverbs 31.10-31 equivalent. Then God gave me an answer nineteen books back: Genesis. It all goes back to the beginning, just like a solution to any problem: go back to the source. It may get a bit intense but I will simplify it much as I can.

Genesis 2:21-22 is a portion of scripture of such great importance because of what it says:

Then the Lord God made woman from the rib[part]

 he had taken out of the man...

...she shall be called, 'Woman,'

for she was taken out of man. (NIV)

Here it is pretty clear that God formed out of man an undisputed farer creature. It was God's idea to do that and I'm grateful that he proved that we equally have beauty- inner beauty unmatched by our outward appearance as men. Guys are often told that we were fearfully but ladies were wonderfully made- this is our consolation.

Now here comes the bomb: Genesis 2:22

"this is now bone of my bone flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called 'woman,'

for she was taken out of man."

Remember beauty I just mentioned, inner in men very much apparent in ladies? it goes deeper in the ladies, the noble character, the diligence, the love for family, the desire to take up responsibility and the scores of praises the proverbs 31 woman has. however these are modeled after their Adam's rib. What does this mean?

it simply means the praises on the proverbs 31 woman are traits readily present and accessible in a man also. The man is what the woman was fashioned after- though the truth extends farther that they were both created by God in HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

I mean this as an exhortation to both ladies and gents out there the Makmendes whom God has fashioned after HIS OWN LIKENESS that let whatever you desire in a man or woman whether relationally or as basic courtesy be something that you are daily fighting on your knees to have God fashion in you. Is it diligence, is it unconditional love, whether noble character battle selfishness and sin and cry out to God to model you after himself. This is so that you don't miss your 'person'[i hope you get the joke in here as well], because when you see them you will not fail to say:

there s(he) is bone of my bone 

flesh of my flesh...

so until that time comes men all around start praying proverbs 31 over yourselves also as you pray for your mates future or present. I mean you can't see and appreciate a noble character if you don't have it. (Makmende this is for you whether you are a gentleman or a lady.)

yours truly,

MIGUUBEAUTIFUL.

Jesus was the better Job

Dear Makmende,

Hallo, I know you aren't doing so well. Tough times you are going through, however let this encourage you.

I was praying for the power of the cross to be revealed in my life. It was an earnest cry from the curiosity of men and women breaking down at the mention of name Jesus. I was praying and believing God for such a moment when the thought of the cross, the pain of Jesus dying me would be fresh and renewed. That the place it has in my life never fades or becomes superficial.  It resounds when you get into church and during worship people are breaking down and you keep asking yourself why not you-especially when you think you have a bone to pick with God. Leaders have attributed it to arrogance; I attribute it to ignorance. There is just something just most of the bible-believing Christians don't understand and so was I.

Interestingly, Louis Giglio was also at this point not so long ago. These are his words: “I am praying for a radical revelation of the cross that will totally obliterate my inadequacies.” This he said in a letter to John Piper. He was praying for an understanding of the cross that would totally transform his relationship with God-I thought to myself, this is exactly what I wanted, I was praying for the very same thing. I believed God for an experience and lesson from the blessed Spirit of God on why it is so powerful-that I had not known. I was hungry yearning for the reason why when a great friend of mine talked to me about the Love of Christ Jesus their eyes tear. It was finally satisfied; God answered my cry. This is the best way I can summarize to you what I learnt:

The book of Job, is a heart-rending ordeal of a great man. This man Job went through the thick and later the thin of life: first of all having all the wealth the world could possibly offer him. He had a lovely family, the kind anyone would dream of, a lovely and supportive wife, the perfect relationship between his children- I mean they went and partied together and took turns at each sibling's house. Even more striking was the love Job had for them( his children) and for his God. He would early in the morning rise up to offer atonement for the possible sins of his children to the God he Loved wholeheartedly. This man had integrity that even with the loss of all his wealth this guy's heart was fixed on God. Unmoved unchanged by the circumstances of his life. In summary, he was the ideal man of God or was he?

image courtesy of Jacob Cherians blogspot.

When calamity really gnawed at him he began to resent his faith and his hope in the God whom he proudly spoke of boldly to all his peers and the nation he belonged. He really really was hurt and felt forsaken by God despite the fact that he had been such a blameless man before God. God in the compassion and love sent to Job three friends: Eliphaz, Zophar and Blidad. These men really did sustain him by their faith in God, rebuking him and exhorting him to rely and hold on to God even for a second longer.

Let us try paint this picture one last time: here is Job a blessed and rich man, he had everything going for him. Then calamity struck, he lost his children, the sanity of his wife and everything he owned. He lost this and had this emptiness about him. I can bet you his friends were many more than the three who showed up, but hey someone showed up, he had a house still and his property-or what was left of it anyway, though he felt alone God was still sorting him out.

Let us equally consider Jesus the son of God who lived in the presence of God the father. He was richer and whole and more at home than anyone could ever be. He was in a family full of love and he and his father were the best of friends kicking it(if you may) as often as you would want to think. He had it all going for Him. Then God asked that he would come and effect the salvation and redemption of all men.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that...”~2 Corinthians 8:9(NIV)

He willingly left his father and came on earth, where he had no house to sleep in (Luke 9:58), then on the his arrest all his 'friends' left him. He was left alone all the while during the suffering, he suffered emotional desertion, psychological torture, physical harm from a jeering mob and all this he suffered to save the very same mob. As if that is not enough he felt the actual detest and desertion by his own father.

Jesus went through the most intolerable pain anguish and abandonment and sheer obliteration. Job went through something very insignificant in comparison with Jesus. Jesus went through far so much pain than we could ever have suffered and all this out of love. He loved us so much that he took the due penalty for both you and I. As you read through the book of Job and see the expression of pain of anguish, always take time to think, “this is nothing compared to the pain anguish and suffering Jesus went through for me”. As well let this remind you that:

“consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”~Hebrews 12:3

All this seems to suggest to me, that first Job is just a mirror of the indescribable pain Jesus would endure, and he was a righteous Man incomparably more righteous than Job. Jesus had the option to shake his fists at God in fact he had a right to do so, but no he obeyed God unto death, even death on a cross. Secondly, Jesus suffered indescribably so for you and for me. That truth totally changed my attitude towards God and His love for me, that was a grand revelation of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Take heart during this tough time! We are loved!

Yours faithfully,

Miguubeautiful

The MAN Mordecai!!!

Dear friend,

Hallo there, are you well? I would gladly start by giving you a name. Yeah I stumbled across a name I think would suite you. You shall be called:*drumroll* Makmende. That's an awesome name, I know because of what my infant mind alluded to every time I said it. When I was awfully younger than I am now we used to call heroes in movies one of three things: either Kauzi, Stero or Makmende. In my books you are a genuine hero, a hero of faith if you like. Equally Paul calls us overcomers, victorious people. So are you!

Makmende, I was today going through the last Chapter of the book of Esther and short as it is God was gracious enough to teach me a handful. It so small it has only three verses! What did I learn? you might ask, well if you back to the title you sort of have an idea. This letter is for the men; the real men.

Over the last decade a question has lingered in my mind on what it is to be a man! Well that's not entirely accurate, this question has lingered in many forms most of them significantly misguided, ill thought or maybe absent all together. Well this has been impressed all the more in the last couple of weeks and even so yesterday(forgive time change it is just past midnight now as I write) as I went through the portion of scripture in Esther.

As I read through the bible verse in the morning I was perturbed at how significantly small it was. It was the account of one man Mordecai in summation to lend a view of what happened in the end after such a dramatic turn of events in the lives of the Jews in exile at the time. It was a bit frustrating to see just a small portion to read after days of laboring over ginormous* portions of scripture. This was as well accompanied by the presupposition that larger portions are more profound and weighty in their messages. Was I wrong!

So the interpretation came in the form of events and activities that followed this reading, let me briefly describe them: first was a lengthy talk with a girl from school. She was sharing the frustrations of using matatus ( Kenyan slang for the buses and minibuses used in the public service transport system ). It is a frequent occurrence of either a harassed or ignorant passenger who suffers the whims of an often drunk or naturally arrogant conductor. As a lady she yearned for one of the men in the vehicle to stand up for her or practically any person who is a victim of such. I was taken aback as well trying to remember how often I stood up for anyone whom I didn't know in a matatu or other public places.

The other was during a reading of a post on www.desiringgod.org. I was stunned to get a view that I had not really tried to wrap my head around: men are there physically but very absent psychologically and emotionally, “...making fake love and fake war...” The context was slightly different however, it is fascinating to note the correlation of this metaphor with the sentiments expressed above by my friend. Men are rarely expressive of the true love and commitment of Christ Jesus especially in those public places. Jesus commanded us to Love God and love neighbor. Are we doing that? Are we loving neighbor and making war on injustices suffered(Jesus' way)?

The other was during another reading of a chapter in God's not dead. The author in trying to point us to true and undefiled religion shows us the example of Jesus a man who was always quick to oppose injustice and fought for the dignity of the everyone of us. Imagine if Jesus decided to be like one of the men we carry ourselves out to be, we'd never have the gift of eternal life!!!!

That is when it dawned on me, what the chapter portion for yesterday actually was. Let us read: Esther 10:3

Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, pre-eminent among the Jews and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews...

This was a man earlier on in the scriptures least acknowledged either by the people nor the King. He was practically a commoner. If you look at the report that is quoted above it is amazing to consider the praise that has eventually befallen him. I hope you asked the question why, did you?

Check this out:

...because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.

It is clearly pasted here, he was feted as such because of his mindful state of other Jews above his own, because of his selfless love for people's wellbeing. He was a noble man by fact of the impact in community and the desire to always see Justice and mercy expressed. This draws me to think of Jeremiah 9:23-24, this coupled with 1 John 2:6. God is inviting us to emulate the life of Mordecai and especially so that of Jesus!!

Men have been called to loving God and more specifically to be bold soldiers of the cross who can lay their lives down for the love for neighbor. Equally this does not preclude ladies, it is a challenge to the Men to step up and show their leadership capability! Finally this is an appeal to reclaim our manhood, it has been said that real manhood is dying( let us prove them wrong). so finally I am finding answers to my decade long question, real manhood is giving and investing ourselves to God and to community at least that's one answer.

Ladies pray for us to be real men, them that LOVE GOD.

Yours Faithfully

MIGUUBEAUTIFUL.

My help comes from the Lord

Dear friend,

I was recently going through the book of Psalm 121 and was struck at the lovely words it begins with:

I look unto the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth.(NIV)

The question that puzzled me is why the hills? I am quickly answered by the idea of the hills that surround Zion; they are a protector, a symbol of strength, power and might. As well in the geography on the hills and their accompanying slopes are lush green, the kind of place good pasture and food would be. Anyone would immediately conclude that this is too greater a wager to make, what could possibly top the hunger and deep need for good pasture cool shade and the feel of a nice breeze after kilometers upon kilometers even possibly days of going without these very things?

I was struck by David’s conclusion that he saw the hills with all their promise to give his sheep and himself a good rest and satisfaction yet He was even more confident and content and in the love of God; so much as to say; my help comes from God… that is a heart hungry for God and a mind fully convinced of the great love of God and fulfillment and satisfaction being found in no one but Jesus Christ. His help is more certain and sure!

...Jesus you are my hope and stay...

lord I need you

O I need you

Every hour I need you

my one defense

my righteousness

O lord how I need you.

Let this song be the cry of our hearts. For the hunger, thirst for other things let an even deeper need subsist for God! This is what we have been called to my friend. please purpose today to desire and long for more of the LORD!

yours faithfully 

MIGUUBEAUTIFUL.